Re: [microsound] downhill battle

[Rob <rob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > PS, Zappa pulled a similar stunt as well...
> >    
>
>  
Distributing blank tapes with his albums.  This was during that last 
time this industry suffered a little freak out in the face of a small 
advance in technology (the home tape recorder).
By the way, in a vain attempt at humor, the back of my iPod says Home 
Taping is Killing Music (the old anti tape recorder slogan).  Although 
the vast majority of the music is from my own collection...  I mostly 
download stuff I own on vinyl, but not CD.

> > And let me say it again, artists need to be able to protect themselves
> >    
> artists need to make art.
>
>  
Um, yes, however reality is a nasty mistress...

Most things develop nicely under the radar, the scene self organizes and 
self polices (social factors mostly).  Most people who've seen a few art 
movements pass by will think of this time as the golden age of whatever 
it is.  Then it bubbles up onto the surface.  Some people will say now 
that it's popular it must be complete hogwash and denouce it.  Sometimes 
it's still pretty cool, even though a few more people know about it.  A 
few people try and get rich (of at least paid.)

> it would be a better for everyone if everything imaginable was not
> turned into a revenue stream.
>
>  
I agree.

However until the Utopia comes you need to protect yourself.  In fact, 
right now it's harder to figure out how to keep your work from being 
turned into money than it is to just sell out.  Literally, displaying 
your work for free without risking someone else taking it and selling it 
is actually difficult!  Plus who's gonna make the roads...  Market 
Socialism doesn't work smoothly (yet).  We're all living in a capitalist 
world (even those on the list who may be living in another form of 
government are living in a world in which capitalism exerts the 
strongest influence worldwide...)  So, you have to face up to the 
facts.  You can sell your stuff.  You can try something different (like 
open source did with the GPL).  Or you can ignore the problem.  If you 
ignore the problem, then as soon as you bubble up onto the surface: a 
buck can be made and unless you've taken steps to prepare for it they 
are gonna hurt cha. 

Like the dance music problem...  If they had only tried some sort of 
alternative license to make mixes or do live sets, then this wouldn't 
have been as much of an issue.  Getting rid of the RIAA is another step 
as well.

Rob


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